San Miguel wants to build Panay-Guimaras bridge

(FILE PHOTO)

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 26) — San Miguel Corporation (SMC) said it is eyeing to build a bridge connecting two provinces in the Visayas.

The listed firm confirmed plans to submit an unsolicited proposal to build the Panay-Guimaras bridge, it said in a disclosure on Thursday.

SMC told the Philippine Stock Exchange that it "plan(s) to invest in certain projects in Iloilo City".

This comes after the diversified conglomerate broke ground for its new brewery in Leganes, Iloilo last Friday. This is San Miguel Brewery's third facility in the island group next to Mandaue and Bacolod, and it will be capable of producing 1 million hectoliters of beer and liquor once completed in two years.

The Panay-Guimaras-Negros bridge is on the government's pipeline of projects which is eyed for Chinese funding. The proposal is still under feasibility study and is expected to cost ₱27.1 billion, with the Panay-Guimaras segment pegged between ₱9 to 14 billion.

Other projects being considered are a grain terminal and feed mill to expand the company's existing production facilities, SMC said.

Last week, SMC President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon Ang floated the idea of building a 10-lane elevated highway along the congested Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue in Metro Manila.